Lake Forest's Tommy Rees Holding His Own in Notre Dame QB Competition

• 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14

Tommy Rees is not about to hand the Notre Dame quarterback job to his buddy Dayne Crist. 

One week into camp, Irish coach Brian Kelly said the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Rees and the 6-4, 235=pound Crist are the only two in line for the job.

This is news because Kelly had said before camp that freshman Everett Golston and sophomore Andrew Hendrix would also have a shot. But nobody really believed that and Kelly's update just confirms what we all suspected.

What is newsy about this is how Crist has not separated himself from Rees. 

So after a week's work of practices, Rees is playing like the guy who led the Irish to four straight wins at the end of last season. Kelly said this about Rees after the scrimmage:

"...escapability over speed is what Tommy brings...he can see the field. In terms of accuracy today, Tommy was probably the most accurate. He was a little late on an overdrag but by and large he was on target and showed his fire. He’s a compeititve kid he wants to be out there and that’s what you love when your working with a QB like him."

So if Rees wins the job over Crist, it will be because Kelly values accuracy over arm strength, intelligence over athleticism. By getting more reps with the first team Saturday, it would not be a quantum leap to say Kelly is leaning toward Rees.

One blogger agrees, saying Rees should be the starter when the Irish open up their season Sept. 3 against South Florida. 

Kelly is expected to make a decision on Rees or Crist, after the second week of practices, which begin Aug. 15.

For more on Rees and the Irish, go to our Facebook page for a video interview with Kelly after a recent practice. 

• 1:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8

Have you ever been in a fight with a friend?

That's the word coming from South Bend, as former Lake Forest star competes with Dayne Crist for the starting quarterback job.

Rees and Crist are saying all the right things as fall practice started over the weekend. All for one, one for all, whatever is best for Notre Dame. This united front is nothing different from what they told us back in April after the spring game:

Rees: "We all get along so there's none of that negative competitiveness. Dayne and I know the coaches are going to make the decision for whatever is best for the team, and whatever they decide we’re going to be behind that guy 100 percent."

Crist: "I really do consider Tommy to be like a little brother to me. He’s great on and off the field, and we can bounce things off each other. He knows I’m there for him and he’s an extra set of eyes when I’m in there. We work well together. We’re constantly trying to make each other better because we know at the end of the day it’s what’s best for the team."

The guy in charge of determining what's best for the team, head coach Brian Kelly, told the media he has decided when he will make that decision. What he doesn't know is whether it will be Rees, who quarterbacked the Irish to four straight wins at the end of last season, or Crist, who opened 2010 as the starter, then injured his knee. 

The early line is on Crist being under center when Notre Dame hosts South Florida on Sept. 3. 

Scouts open practice Wednesday

Lake Forest High School's football team doesn't have a quarterback controversy. Jordan Beck will be taking the snaps when they open up at Buffalo Grove on Aug. 26.

What they must determine between now and then: how are they going to replace six starters on defense?

Good old fashioned two-a-days start Wednesday, although coach Chuck Spagnoli will practice his team mostly in the late afternoon and early evening. Sore muscles and shin splints are a given. Here are three questions not as obvious the Scouts hope to have answered over the next two-plus weeks:

• Can Beck handle the bulk of the snaps under center? Last year, PJ Carollo shared duties with Beck. Going back to Tommy Rees' junior year, coach Chuck Spagnoli has played two quarterbacks. Don't be suprised if junior Andrew Clifford gets plenty of reps in practice.

• Who will be the Scouts' wide receiver threat other than Last year's all-conference receiver Jacob Hellinga has graduated. He was a guy who stretched the field for Lake Forest.

• Who's going to play defensive line and safety? The Scouts should be OK at linebacker with Nick Keefe, Matt Wagener and Brandt Pfeifer returning. Tyler Funk is back to anchor the line, but replacing and TJ Jackson (safeties) will be a challenge. 

We'll continue to update this column and these questions as the Scouts prepare to kick off the 2011 season.

Poll: Do you believe Tommy Rees will be Notre Dame's starting QB? Go to our Facebook page to cast your vote.